Arto Salminen
Curriculum vitae
Arto Salminen
1959 – 2005
Arto Salminen, well known as a novelist, died of a sudden illness only three weeks before the first night of his first play Varasto (The Stockroom) at the Finnish National Theatre in 2005. The play became a success and in 2006, the production was invited to the festival New Plays from Europe in Wiesbaden, Germany.
Salminen wrote six novels. In all of his works he directs his criticism at the manifestations of social decay which is closely related to morals or rather the lack thereof. It is futile for an individual to think that in a moment of distress someone will sincerely stretch out a helping hand. Between people there is no mercy because mercy also does not exist in the society surrounding them.
Varasto was published as a novel in 1998. In the authors own dramatisation, he brings out a light and clear humour with regard to the story and the characters, although his message still hits society’s sore spots. Varasto was performed at the Tampere Theatre in addition to the National Theatre and it has been translated into English and German